Joshua Ganger

Biography

Praised for his “impeccable accuracy and demonstrated versatility and sensitivity” (ITG Journal), Joshua Ganger performs internationally as a chamber musician, soloist, and ensemble member. In 2016, his debut solo album, “Songs of a Sojourner” was released through Summit Records. “Joshua Ganger possesses a powerful sound and impressive technical skills, all of which are on display in his debut solo album Songs of a Sojourner, an appealingly diverse set of recently composed works” (ITG Journal). This album featured all World Premiere recordings of works by Elliott Bark, Kevin McKee, Nicole Piunno, Justin Rito, and James Stephenson.

​Ganger has performed as a guest artist on the 2019 Nassau Music Society Concert Series in the Bahamas, on the 2017 and 2018 International Trumpet Guild Conference New Works Recital, and has given guest artist recitals at Michigan State University, Oklahoma State University, Arkansas Tech University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Ball State University, the Hartt School of Music, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University, and Western Michigan University. In November 2016, he gave the world premiere for James Stephenson’s “Concerto for Piccolo Trumpet and Wind Ensemble” with the Indiana Wesleyan University Wind Ensemble and later performed the same work with the Peabody Conservatory Wind Ensemble.
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Currently, Ganger serves as Principal Trumpet with the Symphony of the Lakes. He has previously performed with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Alma Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Symphony Orchestra, and Marion Philharmonic Orchestra. As a soloist, Ganger has performed with the University of Akron Symphonic Band at the 2018 Ohio Band Directors Conference and the Indiana Wesleyan University Wind Ensemble at the 2013 IMEA Conference. He has also appeared as a soloist with East Lansing, Carrolton, and Jimtown High School Bands as well as the Indiana Wesleyan University Orchestra. As an educator, he has given masterclasses at numerous universities and presentations at the Indiana Music Education Association Conference and the College Music Society Pacific Southwest Conference.

As a chamber musician, Ganger has traveled to Greece with the Red Cedar Brass Quintet to perform at the Exploring Brass Conference. Red Cedar also performed with Grammy Award winning Sones de Mexico. In 2012, Ganger founded Exalt Brass, a brass quartet that performs eclectic programs. Under his leadership, Exalt Brass performed in various churches and venues including the Kennedy Center, and D.C. Jazz Fest. Exalt Brass has also been an artist in residence with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington Teen Arts Performance camp and released two albums, “Silver Bells,” and “Exaltation.”

Ganger currently serves on faculty at Indiana Wesleyan University and Manchester University. Previously he was on faculty at The University of Akron and Indiana University South Bend.

Ganger graduated from Michigan State University College of Music with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance where he was a Teaching Graduate Assistant and a Graduate Fellow under the tutelage of Rich Illman and Justin Emerich. Ganger has previously graduated from Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University where he studied with Josef Burgstaller, Phil Snedecor, Edward Hoffman, and David Fedderly and Indiana Wesleyan University where he studied with Tim Zimmerman.